On The Lead – Details, episodes & analysis

As season one of On the Lead draws to a close, Shannon and PTF sit down for an exclusive conversation marking Everett Dobson’s first 100 days as Chair of The Jockey Club on November 7. In this special season finale, you’ll get an inside look at the recent leadership transition and hear Dobson’s candid reflections on his expectations and vision for the future of the Thoroughbred industry.

When discussing his recent priorities, Dobson outlines a forward-thinking agenda focused on advancing the health and well-being of both horses and participants, working closely with HISA leadership to strengthen data collection and use it to drive meaningful improvements in overall welfare. Dobson also emphasizes the need for greater transparency across the industry, ensuring that both stakeholders and the betting public can better understand the economics of wagering while making data more accessible and meaningful throughout the sport.

Looking ahead, Dobson reflects on the power of storytelling and fan engagement, pointing to the NBA as a model for how a sport can successfully leverage its greatest assets, its fans and athletes, to build deeper connections and broader appeal.

Hosts Shannon Kelly of the Jockey Club and Peter Thomas Fornatale from In the Money Media sit down with two special guests on a memorable edition of the show.

Christian Countzler of Stable Recovery and Will Walden, a Grade 1 winning trainer who is also an ambassador for the program, share their recovery experiences and talk about the special connection between humans and horses that's at the center of this amazing initiative that's helped so many people.

Presented by The Jockey Club

PTF and Shannon Kelly are back with the second edition of On the Lead in which they discuss the effects of influencer marketing on the sport of horse racing.

The show kicks off with Dan Tordjman of America's Best Racing as he talks about ABR's continuing efforts in the influencer marketing space and tells us about taking the concept to the next level in the form of their Stake in Stardom program.

Next up, Lindsay Czarniak drops by to discuss her roles as both a journalist and influencer, connecting racing marketing efforts to those in other sports and revelaing what she thinks are the top marketable stories in racing today that might help the sport reach a mainstream sports audience.

Last but certainly not least, Peter Rotondo Jr. of 1/st is here to give some history on the concept of using celebrities to help market horse racing including an early experiment at the ESPYs from a few years back. He also delves into the "Alix Earle effect" and how it led to an impressive spike in ratings at this year's Pegasus Stakes at Gulfstream Park.

Hello and welcome to a new podcast from The Jockey Club and In the Money Media.

In this first episode, hosts Shannon Kelly and Peter Thomas Formatale are joined by The Jockey Club’s Associate Registrar Lori Johnson, to discuss the process of registering a thoroughbred. Then Jaime Roth, of LNJ Foxwoods, drops by to discuss the “method behind the madness” of her naming process with details about her love of familial lines, pop culture, art and sport all become evident in the names she chooses. She has 150 names on reserve and runs us through some of her favorites. Finally, Tom Durkin takes the story full circle, and tells us how the name on paper comes alive in his legendary race calls.

On the Lead is a new podcast presented by The Jockey Club in association with In the Money Media. The goal of the series is to have entertaining and interesting conversations with varying industry voices targeting owners, breeders, fans, and anyone interested in Thoroughbred breeding and racing. The podcasts will also a feature a mailbag component that will incorporate questions from the audience. The show will be hosted by Shannon Kelly, executive director of The Jockey Club Safety Net Foundation, and Peter Thomas Fornatale of In the Money Media.

Brought to you by The Jockey Club.

Shannon Kelly and PTF are back with a look at a fascinating new Jockey Club initiative -- the creation of a new category of races for horsemen and owners: Ratings Races. Kyle McDoniel and Chance Moquette of Equibase join for an in-depth discussion about the hows, whys, and benefits of this new project that aims to create better options for connections and more interesting races for bettors.

The newly introduced Ratings Races initiative, spearheaded by the Jockey Club in collaboration with Equibase, represents a transformative advancement in the racing industry, aimed at providing enhanced opportunities for horsemen and owners. This initiative seeks to establish a novel category of races that will simplify conditions, thereby facilitating greater participation and engagement from owners eager to race their horses without the apprehension of potential claims.

In this enlightening discourse, we are joined by Kyle McDonald and Chance Moquett from Equibase, who elucidate the intricacies of this pioneering project and its anticipated benefits for both connections and bettors alike. The conversation delves into the algorithmic framework underpinning the ratings system, emphasizing its potential to produce competitive fields that enhance the overall betting experience. Ultimately, this initiative aspires to foster a more vibrant racing landscape, characterized by larger, more competitive fields and increased opportunities for all stakeholders involved.

Takeaways:

• The introduction of Ratings Races represents a significant evolution in North American horse racing, aimed at enhancing opportunities for horsemen and owners.

• This initiative seeks to simplify race conditions, thereby allowing owners more options and hopefully increasing field sizes at tracks.

• The Ratings system is based on an algorithm that evaluates a horse's form cycle, enhancing competitive fields without the complexities of traditional weight assignments.

• The collaboration between various stakeholders in the racing industry is crucial for the success of the Ratings Races initiative, fostering a spirit of community and shared goals.

• This new framework is designed not to replace claiming races but to complement them, providing additional pathways for horse owners to engage with the sport.

• The ultimate goal of the Ratings Races is to create more interesting and competitive racing experiences for bettors, which could lead to increased industry engagement.

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Brought to you by The Jockey Club.

Shannon Kelly and PTF are back with you for the most timely episode yet of the On the Lead podcast. They sit down with TikTok superstar Griffin Johnson, who owns Kentucky Derby contender Sandman in partnership with West Point Thoroughbreds. 

Rachel Miller of America's Best Racing joins as well for a fun and freewheeling look at the world's of influencing and horse racing.

It wasn't that long ago when even large horse training operations used clipboards and index cards to manage all the complexities of their operations. That's all changed because of technology, which now allows training operations of all sizes, and the industry as a whole, to keep a much better handle on their affairs. In this episode of On the Lead, a joint venture between the Jockey Club and In the Money Media, Pete Fornatale and Shannon Kelly sit down with Tracy Attfield, the creator of TLore, and Maggie Sweet, former COO for Todd Pletcher and current Executive Director of the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation, to talk all about how technology has changed and improved the lives of trainers everywhere.

This episode offers a sobering examination of the catastrophic fires that have ravaged parts of California, particularly focusing on their impact on horse racing . Peter Thomas Fornatale and Shannon Kelly engage with Jodie Vella-Gregory and Kristina Schulz, who provide firsthand accounts of the crisis, detailing the urgency and fear experienced during the height of the fires. The conversation reveals the immediate response measures implemented at Santa Anita, where a crisis plan was swiftly executed to ensure the safety of horses and personnel alike. From there, Jodie Vella-Gregory highlights the 1/st team’s initial response to the crisis and how it organically evolved into a way to help the community as a whole.

Throughout the show, listeners learn about the amazing job the 1/st team did in delivering crucial support to affected individuals, detailing the various forms of assistance available. Shannon Kelly also informs listeners about the role of the Jockey Club Safety Net Foundation in the crisis so far and the recovery yet to come.

This episode not only highlights the challenges posed by natural disasters but also showcases the strength and unity of the racing community as they rally to support one another.

Takeaways:

• The ongoing crisis in California due to fires has deeply impacted the racing community.
• Shannon Kelly discussed the scope of assistance provided by the Jockey Club Safety Net foundation.
• Eyewitness accounts reveal the harrowing experiences of those affected by the California wildfires.
• The collaboration among various organizations showcases the racing community’s commitment to support each other during crises.
• The Safety Net foundation is prepared to assist individuals in the racing industry for the long term.
• Efforts to help the broader community during the crisis reflect the racing community’s strong ties and responsibility.

On the latest episode of the On the Lead Podcast, presented by The Jockey Club and In the Money Media, host Shannon Kelly and guest co-host Dan Tordjman have an open and honest conversation regarding Jockey Mental Health. 

The discussion starts with Donna Brothers, a former jockey and long-time NBC Sports racing analyst and commentator. Donna is a member of the recently-created Jockey Mental Health Steering Committee, which was established by HISA and The Jockey’s Guild. Along with Donna, we delve into the unique factors that contribute to jockey mental and physical health, successes of the initiative to date, and her hopes for the future. 

Next, Nathan Horrocks — a former jump racing rider himself and now filmmaker and co-founder of JockeyCam— discusses what inspired him to produce his moving film ‘The Fall’. 

Horrocks also chats about his broader goals related to education and fan engagement through use of media which depicts the world of horse racing through the eyes of jockeys. 

Finally, jockey Trevor McCarthy speaks openly about his physical and mental struggles, his decision to step away from riding to concentrate on his family and continuing to be an advocate for his community.

Watch

The Fall:  https://youtu.be/49krW3RjT5Y?si=1DICTi0xe23HARLA

The Fall (Spanish Subtitles): https://youtu.be/Jj14Z6mg0wM?si=NgILuw3OQWO8RaFc

Learn About & Support Industry Charities:

Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund: https://pdjf.org

The Jockey Club Safety Net Foundation: https://tjcfoundation.org

Racetrack Chaplaincy of America: https://rtcanational.org